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No.892-,246- A Patented Nov. 6lv 1888.

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SAMUEL FRANK WELCH, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN WHEEL SORAPER COMPANY, OF-SAME PLACE.

RADGRADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,246, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed August 27, 1888. Serial No. 283,884. (No model.)

ing had to the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a side elevation of the front part of the machine. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the rear part ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is a centrai vertical section ofthe front part of the machine. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fifth-wheels. Fig. 5 is aplan of the mechanism on one side ofthe machine for raising and lowering a scraper. Fig. 6 is a detail, being a section at line m of Fig. 2, looking to the left.

This invention relates to that class of road grading machines in which the scraper-blade is supported by a frame which is mounted on wheels.

The objects of my improvements are to provide an improved device for supporting the tongue and at the same time allow it to swing freely from side to side; to provide improved fifth-wheels and draft devices which permit the axle to rotate freely on the king-bolt, enabling the machine to turn in a short space while the draft of the teams will be upon the scraper-blade, and the tongue will only have to guide the front wheels; to provide lan, improved friction-brake and lock and operating devices therefor, and to provide improved devices for raising the scraper by the movement of the machine, all of which I accomplish as illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter described.

Those things which I claim as new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A is the front axle.

B is a sand-board.

C is a front bolster,which supports the front end of the main frame I).

E is the tongue.

F is the tonguesupport, which consists ol' a brace, the forward part of which is bifurcated and bolted to the tongue by bolts a. The rear end of this brace F is provided with a slot, b, through which the lower end of the king-bolt passes, and this end of the brace is held in place by a Washer and pin. This slot allows the tongue to be raised and lowered sufficiently, but does not permit it to drop below the proper position for work, and the poleteam is thus relieved from supporting the weight ofthe tongue. The downward movement of the tongue is arrested when the wall of the forward end of the slot b comes in contact with the king-bolt.

G is a tongue-brace, the forward end of which is secured to the tongue and the rear end is connected with the sand-board. There is a second brace corresponding with G on the other side of the tongue.

His a fifth-wheel which is secured to the bolster C. This wheel H is provided with an offset, c.

I is another fifth-wheel secured to the sandboard. This wheel is provided with an offset, d.

J and K are two draft-irons which are piv oted on the king-bolt. The draft-iron .I extends forward through an opening, e, formed by the offset d and the fthavheel H, and the other draftiron, Ii, passes through a similar opening, f, formed by the offset c and the fifth-wheel I.

L is the hammer-strap,which passes through a slot, g, in the forward end of the draft-iron J. The hammerstrap is bent over upon itself, substantially as shown in the drawings, and the lower part, h, is provided at its front end with a hook, i, to receive a draftrod,M,to the forward -end of which the forward team is to be hitched.

j is the doubletreepin. It passes through both parts of the hammer-strap and through a slot, k, in the tongue. The doubletree, is not shown, but is to be located above the tongue.

The draft-iron K is provided atits rear end with a hook, Z, with which the forward end of the main draft-beam N, which carries the scraper-blade O,is connected. This construction of the draft devices brings all the draft of both teams on the hammer-strap,and through it and the drai`t-bars J and K the draft is directly upon the beam which carries the scraper, and the tongue is left free of draft and at the same timethe front axle is free to turn on the king-bolt.

P is a hand-wheel ou a shaft, m, which carries a beveled gear-wheel, n, which engages IOO carries a pinion which engages with the rack R, the lower end of which is connected with a rod, S, which is connected with the devices which carry the scraper-blade.

The last-described devices are used for raising and lowering the scraper and need not be more fully described, because they are similar to the devices for the same purpose shown in a former patent to me, No. 379,550. I have only shown these raising and lowering devices on one side of the machine; but similar devices are provided on the opposite side,so that either end ofthe scraper can be raised independently of the other.

When the scraper has been raised or lowered to any desired position, it can be held in place by my improved lock, which is constructed as follows:

T is a grooved brake-wheel secured to the shaft m.

p is a brake-band on thebralie-wheel T, the opposite ends of which are loosely attached to a lever, q, which is pivoted at fr.

s is a strong spring` secured to the platform of the machine, the free end of which spring is provided with a foot-piece. This spring is connected with the lever q by means ofthe rod l. The construction of the spring is such that it gives a strong upward pressine,which tightens the brake-band p upon thcbralie-wheel T and holds it in position. lVhen the free end ofthe spring s is depressed,the brake-band p will be loosened and the shaft n1. will be free to revolve,and then the scraper can be either raised or lowered.

The devices by means of which the scraper can be raised bythe forward. movement of the machine are as follows:

U is a gear-wheel secured to the spokes of one ofthe rear wheels which support the main frame.

1 is a rock-shaft supported in bearings secured to the main frame. The ends of this shaft extend out beyond the frame.

2 2 are two arms secured to the rock-shaft which arms are provided at their outer ends with journal-luiarings which carry the shaft 3, on the outer end of which is a toothed pinion, l, and on the inner end of this shaft is a sprocket-wheel, 5. 6 is a similar sprocketwheel on the shaft n1.

7 is a drive-chain.

S is a lever pivoted at its outer end io the frame.

S) is a short bar, the upper end of which is pivoted to the lever S, and the lower end is pivoted to one of the arms 2.

1l (l is a lever, the inner end of which is pivoted to a post. y

lll is a bar which connects the two levers S and l0.

12 is a lug secured to the spring s, with which the under side of the lever S can engage.

13 is a spring arranged to act upon the lever 8 and return it and the wheel t to their normal position afterthey have been depressed.

By pressing down 011 the lever l0 the forward end of the lever 8 will be depressed and the free end of the spring s will bedepressed, thus loosening the brake-band p, which holds the shaft m locked. At the same time, by the descent ofthe lever S, the pinion 4 will be brought into engagement with the gear-wheel U, and if the machine be moved forward the scraper will be rapidly raised automatically through the chain 7 and the raising devices.

The automatic raising attachment will be found useful for the purpose of speedily and easily raising the blade from the ground in passing obstructions or at the end of a cut.

I have only shown these automatic raising devices on one side of the machine; but devices such as those described for this purpose are to be provided on the opposite side of the machine.

The spring S can be operated by the foot, if

desired, independently of the automatic raising devices.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. The tongue, in combination with the support F, secured at its forward end to the tongue and provided at its rear end with a slot, in combination with the axle A and the bolt or pin which passes through the slot in the support,substantiall y as and for the purpose specilied.

2. The two wheels lf and l, provided, respectively, with loops c and d, in combination with the draft-bars J and K, pivoted on the king-bolt, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The two wheels II and I, in combination with the hammer-strap L, tongue E, provided with a slot, 7;, and draft-bars J and K, pivoted on the king-bolt, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

Lt. The brake-wheel T, shaft mf, brake-band p, and lever Q, in combination with the spring s and connecting-rod substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination of a gear wheel, U, secured to a wheel of the machine, a rockshaft, l, supported by the frame, shaft 3, supported in arms connected with the rock-shaft, pinion 4,wheel 5, wheel 6 on the shaft m, drivechain 7, levers S and 10, and bars Sl and 11, for the purpose of giving motion to the shaft m by the forward movement of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

(j. In a road-grader mounted ou wheels, a scraper and devices for raising the same, substantiall y as described, in combination with a brake-wheel, T, on the shaft m, a brake-band, p, lever (l, spring s, connecting-rod t, gearwheel U, secured to one of the wheels of the machine, rock-shaft l, shaft 3, supported by arms upon the rock-shaft, pinion 4, sprocketwheels 5 and 6, drive-chain 7, levers S and 1U, and ban4 9 and 1l., substantially as and for the purposes specified.

SAMUEL F tANK. TELGIL Witnesses:

E. F. Woons, N. li. Po'rrnn.

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